Receptacle for holding fluid used to soak fingernails

ABSTRACT

A receptacle for holding fluid used to soak fingernails includes a container body and a removable lid. The container body has a closed bottom and an open top for receipt of fluid to be held in the container and of a plurality of fingers of a person for immersion in the fluid. The lid has an inside surface and a set of bristles disposed on the inside surface

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to removing artificial nails and nail polish and in particular to a receptacle for holding fluid used to soak fingernails having a cover with a brush to remove polish and artificial fingernails.

[0003] 2. The Prior Art

[0004] The prior art contains many patents directed to manicure bowls or to receptacles to facilitate removal of nail polish or artificial fingernails. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,981 to Webster; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,048,547 and 5,609,166 to Walker; U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,203 to Carroll et al.; U.S. Design Pat. No. 116,272 to McKeen; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,323 to Hivale. Other receptacles for different purposes are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,845 to Peretti; U.S. Pat. No. 2,851,713 to Tupper; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,273 to Harris.

[0005] Although a number of receptacles are known, there is still a need for a receptacle for holding fluid used to soak fingernails with a removable lid having bristles disposed on the inside of the lid to facilitate removal of artificial nails or nail polish.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A receptacle for holding fluid used to soak fingernails is provided. The receptacle includes a container body having a closed bottom and an open top for receipt of fluid to be held in the container body and of a plurality of fingers of a person for immersion in the fluid. A removable lid is provided for the container body. The lid has an inside surface and a set of bristles disposed on the inside surface to provide a ready means for removal of artificial nails or nail polish.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0008] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the receptacle of the present invention showing the inside surface of the removable lid.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the outer surface of the removable lid.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 disposed in a heating unit, with the lid removed from the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a receptacle or soaking bowl for holding fluid used to soak fingernails of a preferred embodiment. Receptacle 10 includes a container body 20 and a removable lid 30. Container body 20 has a closed bottom 22 and an open top 24 for receipt of fluid, such as a solvent for removal of artificial nails or nail polish, to be held in container body 20. The primary ingredient of the solvent may be acetone, but the solvent may also container other chemicals for conditioning and protecting the skin of a user. Open top 24 is of sufficient dimensions to receive a plurality of fingers of a person for immersion in the fluid. Preferably, open top 24 forms a circular opening dimensioned to receive all of the fingers of the person's hand.

[0013] Removable lid 30 forms a convenient cover for container body 20. Lid 30 has an inside surface 32 and a brush formed by a set of sturdy bristles 34 disposed on inside surface 32. The bristles should be of sufficient stiffness for fingernail cleaning and artificial nail removal purposes. The bristles are preferably arranged in a circular pattern. For example, bristles may be arranged in five concentric rings with the outer three rings having twenty tufts of bristles and the inner two rings having 12 and 8 tufts of bristles respectively. Bristles 34 are preferably disposed in a plastic base 35 fastened to inside surface 32 by a screw 43 extending through lid 30. The brush facilitates removal of the artificial nails once they have been soaked in the solvent in the soaking bowl.

[0014] Preferably, bristles 34 are sufficiently long so as to extend into the fluid held in container body 20 when lid 30 is placed on container body 20 and container body 20 is three-quarters full of liquid. However, it is not essential for the bristles to be in contact with the fluid when lid 30 is on container body 20.

[0015] Container body 20, lid 30, and bristles 34 are preferably made of a material which is resistant to a solvent such as acetone or other nail remover, whether in liquid or vapor phase. For example, bristles 34 may be made from polyethylene, such as high density polyethylene.

[0016] Preferably, container body 20 is a metal bowl which is solvent-resistant and which conducts heat applied to the bowl which in turn would heat the fluid. The heater preferably slightly warms the contents of the bowl, but not to such a degree that a safety hazard is presented, particularly for solvents such as acetone. FIG. 3 shows container body 20 disposed in a heating unit 40 for this purpose. Heating unit 40 includes an electrical power source (not shown) for activating the heater elements and circuits contained therein. Heating unit 40 warms the contents of container body 20 to facilitate the removal action of the solvent on the artificial nails or nail polish.

[0017] Lid 30 preferably has an outer surface 36 including a circumferential rim 38, a raised cylindrical portion 37, and a channel 39 disposed between rim 38 and cylindrical portion 37. Circumferential rim 38 provides a convenient handle for using lid 30 as a scrubbing brush for removal of nail tips or polish.

[0018] Inner surface 32 of lid 30 preferably includes circumferential rim 38, a recessed inner portion 31, and a cylindrical side wall 33 disposed between rim 38 and inner portion 31. The set of bristles 34 are preferably disposed on recessed inner portion 31. Cylindrical side wall 33 is adapted to be received within open top 24 of container body 20, so that lid 30 fits flush on container body 20.

[0019] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A receptacle for holding fluid used to soak fingernails which comprises: (a) a container body having a closed bottom and an open top for receipt of fluid to be held in said container body and of a plurality of fingers of a person for immersion in the fluid; (b) a removable lid for said container body having an inside surface; and (c) a set of bristles disposed on said inside surface of said lid.
 2. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said fluid is a solvent for removal of artificial nails from the fingers of the person.
 3. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said container body comprises a metal bowl for conducting heat applied to the bowl for heating the fluid.
 4. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said lid has an outer surface comprising a circumferential rim, a raised cylindrical portion, and a channel disposed between said circumferential rim and said cylindrical portion.
 5. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said set of bristles are disposed in a plastic base fastened to said inside surface by a screw extending through said lid.
 6. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said open top forms a circular opening dimensioned to receive all the fingers of a person's hand.
 7. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said lid has a circumferential rim, a recessed inner portion, and a cylindrical side wall disposed between said rim and said inner portion, said set of bristles being disposed on said recessed inner portion and said cylindrical side wall being adapted to be received within said open top of said container body. 